On the journey through life and entrepreneurship, we have done great works that lift us up and make us feel unstoppable. Almost right after what follows are some days or phases where we feel lost and unclear about things and the road ahead.
The secret is to be aware that these energy and confidence stealers come dressed as seemingly insurmountable problems or some work issues that at that moment feel like dead ends and make us weak. Weak not only in our thinking, but also in our actions. Our demeanor changes and the way we walk is different. We slouch. We don’t go to as many events, and we don’t want to connect with people. At this stage, it’s crucial to be aware that this is happening to you because and only because you have believed one event has determined your short or long term destiny.
Your mind has bought a story and is now writing chapters that are bringing you down.
Self-awareness is key at this stage and often is brought in by a lot of practice. However the strong nature of the mind cannot be underestimated and can pull us down deep before we can react.
So what should every entrepreneur do at this stage?
1. Have an Accountability Partner
Have somebody in your life, in your ecosystem, that keeps a tab on you and has the guts to call a spade a spade. You need someone who will sit you down and give you the truth about you as a person when they see you sliding.
This could be a family member, your wife, mom, best friend, a colleague or just somebody from your local meet up or Facebook group who you meet regularly.
2. Pay for Events Ahead of Time and Commit to Your Community That You Will Be Going
I’ve noticed patterns in life and work that bring me up and down, but disciplined success is when you do whatever needs to be done regardless of you wanting to do it at that time or not. So when I know my discipline is weak, especially in the winters, I feel slower and work slows down. I need to stay mentally strong during this time as I have already paid and booked hotels and flights and have committed to a bunch of fellow hustlers that we will go to an event. Once you step out of your current mindset and meet people at the event or conference, the energy of everybody around you during the sessions lifts you back up and allows you to regain your mental strength.
3. Help Somebody Help You
We are all mirrors and see ourselves through others and in others. We are part of the ecosystem we live in. So if you go through periods of lull, you may be able to identify others going through this patch. Helping them lift their spirits and taking their lives to the next level will in turn rub off such a beautiful feeling onto you.
4. Pick up Your Phone and Insert Positive Alarms
I have 7 alarms/notifications that go off every day and a separate one for Saturday, Sunday and Monday. These alarms help me remind myself to stay positive.
5. Talk to Yourself Like You Would to a Child
Reprimand yourself? Really! To sit oneself down in front of the mirror is a ritual practiced by actors, athletes and decision makers at all levels.
Sounds crazy? Sure it is, but then isn’t everything that involves our mind, pick yourself up by talking to yourself. It helps to have a note written to the self that you can read out aloud in front of the mirror a few times. The first time may feel like a chore and not easy and won’t go into your head, but repeating this a few times aloud wakes you up from the deep slumber.
To constantly stay mentally strong may not be possible, but these rituals have helped me get back on the saddle and race my horse through life and work.
6. Lose 3 Kilos, Read a Book or Take a Weekend Master Class
There is nothing more powerful to bring back the confidence and be stronger mentally than to set small goals and achieve them. And there you go, you get that feeling that you can do it. You come back and build stronger mental muscles and are ready to take on the world again.
The most important thing to remember is that patterns will emerge, you will go up and down, and that’s normal, but to stay mentally strong through more situations in life gives you a net positive score. You will find yourself being more positive in situations and not see the good and bad as separate. You will then focus only on what needs to be done.
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